During the recent Holiday Season the Pittsburgh Riverhounds hosted their 2^nd Annual Holiday Classic Tournaments at the Greentree SportsPlex.  Over 90 teams from the Tri-State area participated in the three-day event, making the SportsPlex the place to be to watch the area’s most talented players showcase their abilities.

The Holiday Classic included two different tournaments, kicked off by the high-paced 3v3 and wrapped up by a physical, yet sophisticated 6v6. These two events were exciting for players, coaches, spectators and staff members who were all in attendance.

3v3 Classic Recap

The layout of multiple fields for the 3v3 Classic creates an atmosphere of intense action every 20 minutes.  The tight playing dimensions encourage imagination and creativity from each player looking to excite the crowd with the up-tempo pace set each time the whistle blows.

The two-day event was broken up into morning and afternoon pool play that determined which teams advanced into the single elimination playoff brackets.  The tournament saw a total of 4 different age groups compete in their guaranteed matches. 

On a frigid December morning, the U-8/9 girls and boys age groups braved the winter chill and opened the Classic with multiple nail-biting moments, highlighted by 2 penalty shootouts in the playoffs.  As the tournament moved into the afternoon, the twelve U-10/11 girls’ teams heated up the SportPlex and competed at a rapid pace, while setting a standard for the upcoming boy’s teams who followed.  The boys rounded up match day one with some thrilling scores and unbelievable soccer action.

Match day two began with the far traveled U-12/13 age group with Lake Erie SC and Eagle FC of Harrisburg commuting during the wee hours of the morning, despite Mother Nature’s winter conditions.  The girls and boys enhanced the tournament’s soccer savvy with a speed of play yet to be seen during the Classic.  The girls U-14/15 age group impressed the Riverhounds Staff with their fitness level, by playing multiple back-to-back matches during the mid-afternoon while raising the quality of soccer on display.  The night cap saw the boys add the intense and physical aspects of the sport making each match extremely important to earn the points needed for the coveted playoff berth.

6v6 Classic Recap

The Riverhounds added a new flavor to the Holiday Classic by introducing the 6v6 to the annual festivities.  The two turf fields within the SportPlex provide the young soccer stars the opportunity to excite the crowd with a stadium-like atmosphere. 

The Classic’s match day three began with the U-14/15 girls competing to earn as many points as possible in each match.  The sense of urgency to receive the critical rest during the first round of the playoffs was felt by all who were in attendance. 

The girl’s playoff rounds bred an intense environment for the players and coaches alike.  The quarter-finals were highlighted by a penalty shootout, while the semi-finals saw a come-from-behind team advance into the finals.  The championship match was a battle of the titans with Team Knightmare earning the first place medals.

The final phase of the Classic witnessed the boys U-14/15 age group improve the quality of soccer inside the Plex.  The two-bracket format allowed for the teams to compete every 30 minutes allowing ample time to recover for their next match. 

Five of the nine teams were true U-14/15 players, while four teams participating in the pool play were playing up in age.  The younger teams’ dedication to compete with the older, more mature players was an encouraging site for the entire Riverhounds Staff to witness.

The top two teams in each bracket advanced into the single elimination playoffs.  The semi-finals saw the two Washington United teams battle against one another, while a come-from-behind victory was earned by Century United who were playing up.  The final match of the Classic was tight nit, with many amazing saves by the goal keepers to maintain the excitement up until the last whistle.

On behalf of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, we thank you for your participation in the Classic.  Keep Kicking It!!

John Rotz, Director of Tournament Operations